Chapter One: Discussion (Grayson)

Convince him.

Grayson looks out at the colored streets of Fribourg, watching as Leon and Engelard leave the cathedral. He uses a hand to pull his hood down and sees a ripple in the air to his right. Without glancing in that direction, he calls out into the space.

"Aaron, what do you wish to report?"

A young boy appears from where the ripple originated and bows to Grayson before answering the question he was asked.

"Herr Sivert seriously does not consider becoming one of Der Kreis. The book he was reading contained information about different types of arrows, solidifying his desire to, at least, stay a schütze. I assume that aligns with being an unterhändler as well.

Grayson, at the mention of schütze, harshly glares at Aaron, causing the boy to take a step back.

"He's a scharfschütze, not a schütze. Do you need another lesson in German, Aaron?"

"Nien. Verzeihung, herr."

Aaron bows apologetically, and Grayson continues looking out the window. Leon and Engelard are now out of his sight. He whips around to face his desk and slams his hands on the wood.

"Verdammt! Bist du blind, Engelard? When will you realize you were meant to be a member of Der Kreis from the moment you became a scharfschütze? Why hasn't Leon convinced you yet?" Grayson stares at his desk as if it will provide him with the answers to all his questions.

Only silence meets his words. It is abruptly broken when the phone upon his desk rings. Taking a deep breath and blinking a few times, Grayson picks up the phone.

"Hallo. Oh, it's you. Sorry, I'm always expecting someone who speaks German to call. Is the plan almost done yet? It is? Wonderful. Put it into action immediately. If this begins, he will be too cowardly to protect this country. Make him step down from his position. That will surely ruin him, enough to discourage him from trying to take back his position. Is that all you wished to share with me? Alright. Call me back when it is done. Thank you. Goodbye."

Grayson hangs up the phone and turns back to face Aaron, who takes a few steps forward. He holds a large red book in his hands and holds it out for Grayson to take. He takes it and lets his finger trace the stacked pages at the top of the book, opening to a section that creates a hole in the collection of paper.

On the right side of the book lays a flattened but still intact red rhododendron. He picks up the flower and lays it on his desk, then glances back at the book. He brushes away the pollen from the flower and reads the words of the book that are tinted a faint red from the flower's petals.

This country can fall to ruin without someone to protect it. That someone is accompanied by others who have the same goal in mind: to ensure the welfare of the citizens before the nation. If that goal is always a priority, then this country can never fall. Otherwise, this nation will be no more.

Grayson slowly closes the book and scans both sides of the leather cover for a title, phrases, words, or even letters of some sort to figure out what this book is about but cannot find anything. As to not alert Aaron to his fear of what may come in the future, Grayson returns the book to him and watches as Aaron inserts it back into the bookshelf.

He turns back to face the window and pulls out a golden pocket watch from the white cloak he wears. He waits fifteen seconds before speaking to Aaron.

"Please escort Herr Secara to the cathedral. He should be waiting for you on the outskirts of the country."

"Ace Secara? Why is he here?"

Grayson turns his head to look at Aaron's expression. It is, as he expects, one of confusion but also excitement.

"He has a delivery for Engelard and Leon. I also want him to deliver a message to Engelard for me."

"If he doesn't want to join Der Kreis, I wouldn't force the idea upon him," Aaron suggests, stepping back a few steps until his back hits the bookshelf as Grayson takes a step towards him, his eyes narrowed and mouth in a frown.

"You work for me, Aaron. You listen to my orders. Just because you're my assistant doesn't mean you have a say in what I wish to do," Grayson declares as Aaron vigorously nods.

"Ja, herr. Verzeihung," Aaron bows his head and disappears back into the space around Grayson.

The young man finally sits in the cushioned chair at his desk and looks at the symbol of his organization that hangs on the wall directly across from him. It is only seen from the second floor, while every major religious symbol and figure can be seen from the first floor of the cathedral, which is what the people who usually visit the cathedral are interested in, anyway.

The symbol is nothing more than a white dove holding a blood-stained silver dagger. A simple but intimidating sign for those who know both very little and all about the organization and its members.

Though Leon was not the best the organization had, he was quickly earning Grayson's admiration. He was polite, never asked questions of others in the organization or questioned Grayson, and completed all of his requests and orders with accuracy and in a swift manner.

Engelard started as just a wanna-be assassin like Leon, but it soon occurred to him that Engelard was a protector and assistant to Leon, helping him complete his requests. At first, Grayson tried to persuade him to leave the requests solely to Leon, but after learning Engelard saved Leon's life from a tough assassination target, Grayson saw potential in Leon's sworn protector.

Though he did not have a talent for daggers, knives, swords, or other blades like Leon, he was an undeniably top-class ranged weapon handler. Bow and arrows, guns, and even a whip sword (much to Grayson's surprise) could be effortlessly wielded by Engelard.

He would make a wonderful addition to Der Kreis, that was for sure. But, persuading him to join was proving to be quite difficult. Though he and Leon were practically best friends, they each went slightly different paths while still managing to spend the majority of their time together.

Leon handled assassinations, while rumors were circulating that a certain scharfschütze made promising negotiations, of which he always delivered on his side of the bargain, and nonchalantly rid of anyone who didn't keep their side, regardless of excuses or other hindering occurrences and problems.

Still, there had to be a way to make Engelard join Der Kreis. Threatening Leon's life would be too dangerous and would most likely cost Grayson and Aaron their lives, as Aaron would die protecting Grayson before the latter died.

Maybe an anonymous gift? A new bow? A gun? A rifle? If it was anonymous, Engelard may grow suspicious. If he knew it was from Grayson, he wouldn't accept it. Pure persuasion? No, Engelard was an unterhändler, and would not be the least bit swayed.

Grayson folds his hands in his lap and allows his vision to grow out of focus as he sinks into deep thought. There had to be a method... There had to be a sure way to get Engelard to join Der Kreis...

A loud boom and vicious rumble pull Grayson from his thoughts. He, unlike the screaming and furiously praying people, gathered downstairs, remains calm. A small smile crosses his face as he raises both his hands back up above his desk. He grabs a piece of parchment from the pile to his right and a quill from the ink bottle to his left. He begins to write on the paper.

Armeijan kenraali, herra...

Words and phrases used in this chapter:

Herr- Sir

Der Kreis- The Circle

Schütze- Shooter

Scharfschütze- Sniper

Verzeihung- Sorry

Verdammt- Damn

Bist du blind- Are you blind

Hallo- Hello

Ja- Yes

Unterhändler- Negotiator

Armeijan kenraali, herra- Army General, sir